In a significant shift in federal health policy, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., head of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), has drastically cut funding for nearly 200 programs focusing on LGBT and diversity issues. The New York Post reports that $122 million in grants have been withdrawn, affecting initiatives that the Trump administration considered overly focused on race and sexual orientation.
The action, which began in March, was executed in collaboration with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Kennedy's decision has resulted in the termination of substantial grants, such as a $5.5 million award to Vanderbilt University Medical Center's initiative aimed at diversifying faculty, and a $4.6 million grant to Drexel University for supporting faculty in health disparities research.
These cuts extend to a range of research areas, including a $2.4 million grant to the University of Virginia for autism studies in females and gender-diverse individuals, and a $1.1 million grant to the University of Michigan for improving inclusivity in Alzheimer’s Disease research among Asian Americans and Latinx communities.
The source familiar with the decision stated that these programs were not in line with the administration's priorities. According to the source, the focus on sexual orientation and race was seen as excessively "woke," prompting a realignment of funding to match the leadership's objectives.
Kennedy, who has been an outspoken critic of HHS initiatives before his tenure at the department's helm in Trump’s second term, appears to be driving a broader shift in health research philosophy. This includes a reshuffling of leadership, with the firing of the CDC director and the appointment of Jim O’Neill, a Kennedy loyalist, as the acting director.
Officials suggest that Kennedy's actions are not merely grant cuts but signify a fundamental reshaping of the department's approach to health research in America. Institutions affected by the funding withdrawal have remained silent, with none responding to the Post’s requests for comment.
The elimination of these funds marks a major rollback of research projects tailored to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). It represents an extension of the administration's criticism for allegedly politicizing federal science and research. The new direction underlines a commitment to merit-based research and a move away from identity-focused initiatives.
As the Trump administration reaffirms its agenda, the consequences of these cuts are expected to be substantial for the academic and research communities across the nation.
